Garlicky goodness in the Poconos

Dine, dance and indulge in the best of homegrown garlic at the 19th annual Pocono Garlic Festival, hosted by Shawnee Ski Area in East Stroudsburg Saturday and Sunday.

This potent species of onion is the theme of more than 30 food vendors offering garlic soup, salsa, pasta sauces and even funnel cakes, curly fries, ice cream and chocolate chip garlic cookies. Feeling adventurous? Test your taste buds with a shot of garlic vinegar.

You can do more than eat garlic — learn about it at daily cooking demos and from professional garlic speakers.

Think you can eat the most garlic in under one minute? Then enter the second annual Garlic Eating Contest, taking place both days. Sign up no later than 1:30 p.m. Saturday's winner will be invited back on Sunday to defend his/her title. The winner will lead the Garlic Processional Parade as "King" or "Queen" of the festival, taking place both days around 5 p.m.

Don't forget to pick up a souvenir T-shirt, which says "Peace, Love and Garlic" on the front; "But mostly garlic" on the back.

The festival also features music by local musicians, arts and crafters and kids activities, including face painters, a petting zoo, magician Stephen Christopher and a juggling act from Aardvark Entertainment. Strolling will be a string band, some lost ramblers and a stilt walker.